According to the WHO, cervical cancer is the 4th most common cancer in women worldwide and only 2nd after breast cancer in Côte d'Ivoire. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the main risk factor for the development of cervical cancer. This study aimed to compare the prevalence and distribution of HPV genotypes in women living in rural and urban areas. The women were recruited at the cervical cancer screening site of Treichville University Hospital among those presenting precancerous lesions with a positive response to acetic acid test. DNA detection was performed using the HPV Linnear Array kit (Roche Diagnostics). 50 women were recruited among whom 36 were HPV positive, giving an overall prevalence of 72.0%. The prevalence was 50% in urban areas versus 22% in rural areas. The most frequent high-risk genotypes were 16, 18, 45, and 52, with prevalence of 36.1% in urban areas and 22.2% in rural areas. The overall prevalence of HPV and high-risk genotype was high among the population studied. Women in urban areas were the most infected.

 

Key words: Cervical cancer, HPV, genotype, urban area, rural area.